Westerville Sauce Giant Drops $400 Million on Bachan’s Barbecue Upstart
Westerville-based Marzetti closed a $400M deal to buy Bachan’s, adding the Sebastopol-born Japanese barbecue sauce to its portfolio. The purchase brings a fast-growing, clean-label brand with about $87M in trailing sales.
Secret Deal, Extra Water Rules: Napa Supes Put Arrow&Branch on a Short Leash
Supervisors approved extra well‑monitoring conditions tied to a confidential settlement over Arrow&Branch’s expansion while demanding the county review the full agreement first.
Pacifica Branded Worst Small City For Startups, Locals Call Foul
WalletHub placed Pacifica last among 1,334 small U.S. cities to start a business, but locals and officials say the ranking misses the coastal town’s visitor‑driven economy. Business owners and a new city workplan offer a different picture.
Castro Business Briefs: Love Potion Library and Pawpitos Open, Parasol Expands Menu and Hours, More
In this edition, a new romance bookstore, dog grooming business, and campaign office open, while a cafe expands its hours and menu, and the Castro gets a fancy new trash can.
Wall Street Colossus Moves In: Blackstone Plants AI Flag In San Francisco
Blackstone folded its growth arm into Blackstone N1, a San Francisco–based team to centralize its AI and high‑growth tech bets. Jas Khaira will lead the new unit as the firm tightens coordination across its OpenAI and Anthropic stakes.
Tracy Fresh-Food Plant On The Chopping Block As Bankruptcy Imperils 200 Jobs
FreshRealm told state officials it will close its Tracy production site as it pursues Chapter 11, putting more than 200 local jobs at risk and prompting WARN scrutiny.
South Napa Forge Pizza Goes Dark After Decade-Long Run
Forge Pizza Napa has closed its South Napa Century Center location after roughly ten years, leaving a popular wood‑fired pizzeria dark as the center shifts toward temporary recreation uses.












